Bridge-plate for rail-joints.



No. 689,|5|. vPatented uw. I7, mol.

F. E. ABBOTT.

BRIDGE vPLATE FOR RAI NTS.

(Application led June 27,

(llo Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

//zesea y Z2/6227er ed( a; am 4%.. am. W fm nu. 689,|5|. Patented nec.I7, 19m. F. E. ABoTT.

BRIDGE PLATE FOR RAIL JOINTS.

(Application led June 27, 1901.) (N0 510ML) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I Uivrrjnn Stains Parent Ottica.

FRANKLIN E. ABBOTT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BRIDGE-PLATE FOR RAIL-JOINTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Eatent No. 689,1 51, datedDecember 17, 1901.

Application filed June 2'7, 1901.

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN E. ABBOTT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridge-Plates for Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings. I

My invention relates to bridge-plates for rail-joints, and particularlyto that class of bridge-plates where the joint between the rails cornesbetween the ties; and its object is to provide a bridge-plate whichshall afford a firm truss-like support for the joint and which shallprevent the rails from creeping.

To that end my invention in its essence consists of a bridge-platehaving a reverse flange upon each side of a downward-projecting portionand two upward-projecting portions at each side of thedownward-projecting portion extending above the surface ofthe flange.The downward projecting portion of the flange comes between the tieswhen thejoint and bridge-plate are in position, and theupward-projecting portions when the joint and bridge-plate are inposition lie with their deepest portion over the inner edges of thetiesthat is, over the edges of' the two ties upon which the jointissupported which face each other. The plate is also provided at each endwith upward-projecting lugs, between which the rail rests and which areadapted to abut upon each end of the angle-irons, which secure the railstogether' at the joint, s0 as to prevent longitudinal creeping of therails. In bridge plates of this character which have heretofore beenconstructed downward-projecting lugs of various forms have 4beenconstructed designed to give a truss-like support to the rail-jointbetween the ties; but with this form -of bridge-plate an objectionablefeature arose from the fact that by the pressure upon the joint from thepassing trains the plate was apt to be bent at the inner edges of thetiesthat is, at the edges of the two joint-supporting ties which facedeach other-and the joint thus injured or destroyed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a top or plan view. Fig. 2 is aside elevation. Fig. 3 is an end elevation, partly in section;

Serial No. 66.213. (No model.)

-the ties 6 G.

7 indicates angle-bars, of the usual wellknown description, which form afish-plate at the joint of the rails and consist of a web 7"L and base7l. The angle-bars 7 are secured to the rail by the bolts 8 in the usualWellknown manner.

9 indicates the bridge-plate, which rests at eacn end upon and issupported by the ties G G below the rail.V

The bridge-plate 9 is preferably constructed of steel plate and ismolded upon or rolled or otherwise formed with a flange l0 upon eachside midway between the ends of the plate. The iiange 10 consists of adownwardprojecting portion ll and two upward-projecting portions-12 uponeach side thereof. When the bridge-plate is in position upon the ties,the upward-projecting portions 12, as is best shown in Figs. 2 and 4,begin to curve upward at a point near the ends of the bridgeplate `andthen curve downward, meeting the downwardly-bent portion ll. When thebridge-plate is in position, the downward-projecting portion of theflange l0 rests midway between the ties and affords a truss-like supportto the rail-joint against downward pressure between the ties, theupward-projecting portions l2 resting with their deepest portion over orclose to the inner faces of the ties 6, thus affording a truss-likeresistance against any downward pressure which would tend t0 bend thebridge-plate over the edges of the ties.

The bridge-plate 9 is also provided at each end with upward-projectinglugs 13, which are spaced a distance apart about equal to the foot ofthe rail 5, so that the rails may rest between them, and thebridge-plate 9 is of such length that the lugs 13 will abut upon theends of the base 7b of the angle-bars 7. As the angle-bars 7 are in theusual manner secured to the rails by the bolts 8, it is obvious that theabutting of the angle-bars 7 against the lugs 13 will preventlongitudinal creeping of the rails.

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The joint and bridge-rail are fastened to which pass through suitablenotches in the edge of the base 7b of the angle-bars 7 and throughsuitable openings 15 in the bridgeplate 9.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

A bridge-plate, provided with a downward-projecting flange, and areverse upwardprojecting flange upon each side of saiddownward-projecting flange, substantially as described. Y

2. A bridge-plate, provided with reverse flangesl consisting of adownward-projecting portion, andan upward-projecting portion on eachside thereof, substantially as described. 3. A bridge-plate, providedupon each side with a downward-proj ectin g flange ll, and reverseupward-projecting flanges l2 upon each side thereof, substantially asdescribed.

4. Abridgeplate,provided with downwardprojecting flanges, reverseupward-projecting flanges upon each side of said downward-projectingflanges, and upward-projecting lugs adapted to abut upon each end of theanglebars of a rail-joint,substantially as described.

5. A rail-joint, consisting of the combination of angle-bars having aweb and base, and a bridge-plate, adapted to be placed below and supporta rail, having upon each side flanges consisting of adownward-projecting portion and an upwardprojecting portion at each sidethereof, and having upturned lugs at each end of said bridge-plateadapted to abut upon the ends of the base of said angle-bars,substantially as described.

` FRANKLIN E. ABBOTT.

Witnesses:

C. E. PIGKARD, ALBERT H'. ADAMS.

